Surf Scoter vs White-winged Scoter

Melanitta perspicillata compared with Melanitta fusca

Key Differences

• Surf Scoter is Not Evaluated while White-winged Scoter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Surf Scoter	White-winged Scoter
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order same	Anseriformes (Anseriformes)	Anseriformes (Anseriformes)
Family same	Anatidae	Anatidae
Genus same	Melanitta	Melanitta
Species	Melanitta perspicillata	Melanitta fusca

Evolutionary Relationship

Surf Scoter and White-winged Scoter share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Melanitta.

Conservation Status

Surf Scoter

NE — Not Evaluated

White-winged Scoter

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Surf Scoter	White-winged Scoter
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Surf Scoter

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (United States).

White-winged Scoter

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

White-winged Scoter

White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. Facing a high risk of endangerment in the wild, with declining populations and increasing habitat pressure.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States